Oceania

our story

From our local beginnings over 130 years ago to our vast international presence today, WSP has enjoyed continuous growth and enrichment of its service offering. Every milestone reached has enabled us to better fulfill our purpose of preparing our communities and environment for the future.

WSP Today

WSP is a globally-recognized professional services firm employing approximately 43,000 people.

We welcomed 2,500 experts from eight different acquisitions in 2016, adding to existing expertise in our Americas, EMEIA and Asia Pacific operating regions, as well as establishing our presence in three new countries: Chile, Peru and Mexico. The largest team to join us was Mouchel Consulting, a 2,000-employee engineering consulting firm operating mainly in the UK and Ireland, with a presence in the Middle East.

In 2016 Alexandre L’Heureux, our former Chief Financial Officer, transitioned to the role of President and Chief Executive Officer. Under his leadership, we made the important decision to bring together our different firms to unite under a single brand: WSP.

Always be the first choice for clients, partners and employees

WSP 2015-2018
Strategic Plan vision

Our History in Canada

In Canada, two engineering services firms, G.B.G.M. Ltd and Les Consultants Dupuis Côté, Inc. began operating in Quebec City in 1959. The two firms merged in 1987 to become Groupe-Conseil Solivar Inc., which acquired two more companies at the beginning of the 1990s, thus establishing its multidisciplinary approach. In 1993, geographic expansion began with the acquisition of three firms in Montreal and the company name changed to GENIVAR. Between 1993 and 2006 GENIVAR acquired at least 30 firms, establishing operations all across the province of Quebec. The company also entered the Ontario market. Between 2006 and 2012, over 60 firms were added and GENIVAR became one of the largest professional services firms in Canada, with offices in all provinces.

In 2012 GENIVAR acquired WSP Group PLC, a multidisciplinary consultancy based in London, UK, creating a professional services firm with 15,000 employees working in 300 offices worldwide. In January 2014, the company reorganized as WSP Global Inc. and adopted WSP as its brand. In the first quarter of 2014, Focus Group Holding Inc. joined the Corporation, strengthening the Corporation’s presence in the province of Alberta.

In 2015, we announced the acquisition of MMM Group, one of the largest privately-owned engineering consulting firms in Canada, as well as the acquisitions of Levelton and SPL Consultants.

History in the United States, Central and South America

In the United States, the firm’s origins date back to 1885, when William Barclay Parsons founded the company that would become Parsons Brinckerhoff in New York City. Early projects included the design of the original New York City subway system and the Cape Cod Canal. Chas H. Sells, Inc. was founded in New York in 1925 and was acquired by WSP in 2007, becoming WSP’s transport and infrastructure engineering group in the United States.

WSP entered the US market in 2000 through the acquisitions of Cantor Seinuk, a structural engineering firm established in 1953 and of Flack + Kurtz, a mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering business founded in 1969. Environment & Energy, an environmental and energy consulting business established in 1986, became part of the company in 2006.

International expansion of GENIVAR began with the opening of a Caribbean office in Trinidad and Tobago in 2004 as well an office in Colombia in 2011. In 2012, WSP strengthened its presence in Colombia through the acquisition of Consultores Regionales Asociados CRA S.A.S. In 2014, the Corporation acquired Dessau CEI S.A.S., also in Colombia.

History in Europe, Middle East, India and Africa (EMEIA)

Parsons Brinckerhoff in the UK traces its roots back over 125 years through three consulting engineering practices: MRM Partnership, Kennedy & Donkin and Merz and McLellan.

MRM Partnership, a multidisciplinary consultancy first established in 1887, was acquired by WMX Technologies Inc. in the US in 1993, and in 1994 became Rust Consulting Limited. Kennedy & Donkin, originally focused on power generation and distribution projects, was founded in 1889. In 1994, Kennedy & Donkin was also sold to WMX Technologies Inc. and became Rust, Kennedy & Donkin.

In 1995, Parsons Brinckerhoff acquired Merz and McLellan, another century-old power engineering consultancy, based in Newcastle, UK. In 1997, Rust, Kennedy & Donkin and Rust Consulting integrated their expertise, and the company was purchased by Parsons Brinckerhoff in 1998.

The Williams Sale Partnership Limited was established in 1969 as a building services consultancy in the UK. The company was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1987 as WSP. Between 1990 and 1995, UK-based acquisitions added structural and civil engineering capability to WSP’s skills portfolio. From 1996 to 1999, acquisitions were completed in the UK and South Africa, and then in 2001 WSP acquired Jacobson & Widmark in Sweden and two smaller Finnish consultancies. In 2003, further acquisitions in Finland increased our presence in the Nordics.

Parsons Brinckerhoff has been active in the Middle East since the 1940s. From 2005 to 2006, WSP gained a meaningful presence in the Middle East with two acquisitions in the region. In 2007, further acquisitions in Germany and the Middle East reinforced WSP’s profile as a global consultant. In 2014, the acquisition of Technip TPS, specialising in building and infrastructure engineering, enhanced our presence in the French market. In 2015, Faveo Group was acquired in Scandinavia.

History in Asia-Pacific (APAC)

In 1970, Parsons Brinckerhoff established offices in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne and in 1978, Parsons Brinckerhoff’s Hong Kong office was the first location established in Asia. However, prior to 1978 Parsons Brinckerhoff provided an alternative design for the first Cross Harbor Tunnel project in Hong Kong, which was adopted and the tunnel opened in 1972. During the 1970s and 1980s Parsons Brinckerhoff’s experts were instrumental in the development of the mass transit systems in Hong Kong, Singapore and later Taipei.

In 1995, overseas expansion of WSP began with the formation of WSP Asia and in 2000, WSP increased its presence in Asia. In 2007, WSP completed a further acquisition in Australia. In 2014, the acquisition of WINWARD Group, a specialist structural engineering consultancy, strengthened WSP’s presence in Australia prior to the Parsons Brinckerhoff transaction.

Key Dates in Our History

2017

WSP acquires New Zealand based OPUS and completes its 100th acquisition since the IPO. The acquisition enables WSP to enhance its activities in the Australia/New Zealand region and strengthen its expertise in the water-related infrastructure sector and asset management.

2017

WSP acquires Concol, providing a leadership position in the Colombian market in a wide array of services and sectors, while solidifying the company’s presence in Chile, Peru and Mexico.

2017

WSP acquires Poch, providing the company with a leadership position in the Chilean market, while also strengthening WSP’s presence in Colombia, Peru and Mexico.

2017

WSP unites under one name, one brand and one vision across all geographies, cultures, specialties and backgrounds, anchored by its guiding principles and manifesto.

2016

Alexandre L'Heureux is appointed President and CEO, to lead WSP in the next phase of its evolution.

2016

WSP acquires Mouchel Consulting, a leading UK firm recognized for its broad expertise in the public transportation and infrastructure sectors.

2015

WSP acquires Canadian-based MMM group recognized for its expertise in transportation, and leadership position in public-private partnerships.

2015

WSP acquires leading Nordic project management firm Faveo Group, providing a strong entry-point in the Norwegian market, while strengthening the company’s position in Sweden.

2014

WSP acquires Focus, a Canadian-based Engineering and Geomatics firm, expanding the company’s platform in oil & gas engineering services, and strengthening its presence in western Canada.

2014

WSP acquires US-based Parsons Brinckerhoff, a premier infrastructure consultancy, and becomes one of the largest global pure-play professional services firms.

2014

GENIVAR and WSP reorganize as WSP Global Inc., and adopt WSP as the corporate brand